the Germains in those dayes: so to forsake such a valiaunt Emperour, and so much to repute a vile Byshop. But thys was the rudenes of the world thē, for lack of better knowledge. The Emperour seyng the chiefe princes ready to forsake hym, promiseth them wyth an othe, that if the Pope would repaire to Germany, he would aske forgeuenes.

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Vpon this the bishop of Triers, was sent vp in commission to Rome, to entreat the pope to come into Germany. The bishop (at the instaunce of the Legate, and of the Princes) was contēt. He entred into Germany, thinking to come to Augusta. MarginaliaPeace disturbed through wicked counsell.After he was come to Vercellos (the bishop of that city, beyng the Chauncelor of Italy, & desirous to disturbe peace, for the olde grudge he had to themperour) falsly perswadeth wyth the Pope, that he was certayne, the Emperour was comming with a mighty great army agaynst hym: councelling hym therfore to prouide betymes for hys owne safegarde, in some stronger place. Wherby the Popes mynde beyng altered, he retyred backe to Canusium or Canossus, a Citie beyng subiect to Matilda, a Countesse of Italy: where he should not neede to feare The Emperour.

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Henricus vnderstaynding the false feare of the Pope, & of hys retyre to Canusium: incontinent (commyng out of Spires with his wyfe, and hys yong sonne in the depe and sharpe of winter) resorteth to Canossus. All his peares & nobles had left hym, for feare of the Popes curse, neyther did any company hym. MarginaliaA wonderous submission of a valiant Emperour to a vile Pope.Wherfore The Emperor beyng not a litle troubled (laying apart his regall ornamentes) came barefooted, with his wyfe and childe, to the gate of Canossus: where he, from mornyng to night (all the day fasting) most humbly desireth absolution, crauyng to be let in to the speech of the bishop. But no ingresse might be geuen hym once within the gates. Thus he continuyng iij. dayes together in hys peticion and sute: at length answer came, that the Popes maiestye had yet no laisure to talke with hym. The Emperour nothyng mooued therewith, that he was not let into the Citie, patiently and with an humble mynde abideth without the wals, with no little greuaunce & painfull labor: for it was a sharpe wynter, and all frozen wyth cold. MarginaliaNotable patience in a noble Emperour.Notwithstandyng yet, through hys unportunate sute, at length, it was graunted through the intreating of Matilda the Popes paramour and of Adelaus Earle of Sebaudia, and the Abbot of Cluniake, that he should be admitted to the Popes speach. On the 4. day beyng let in, for a token of hys true repentaunce, he yeldeth to the Popes handes hys crowne, with all other ornamentes Imperiall: and confesseth hymselfe vnworthy of the empire, if euer he do agaynst the Pope hereafter as he hath done tofore: desiryng for that time to be absolued and forgeuen. The pope aunswereth he will neither forgeue hym, nor relese þ^e bande of hys excommunication, but vpō conditions. MarginaliaProud conditions of the Pope.First, to promise, that he shalbe content to stand to hys arbitrement in the councell, and to take such penaunce, as he shall enioyn hym: also that he shal be prest and redy to appeare, in what place or tyme the Pope shall appoint hym: Moreouer that he beyng content to take the Pope iudge of hys cause, shal answer, in the sayd councell, to all obiections and accusations layd agaynst hym,MarginaliaPope both accuser and iudge.and that he shall neuer seeke any reuengement herein. Item that he (though he be quit & cleared therin) shall stand to the Popes mynde and pleasure, whether to haue his kingdome restored, or to lose it. Finally, that before the tryall of hys cause he shal neither vse his kingly ornaments, scepters, or crowne, nor to vsurpe the authoritie to gouerne, nor to exacte any othe of allegeaunce vpon hys subiectes. &c. MarginaliaHere the beast of the Apocalips appeareth in hys colors.These thynges beyng promised to the bishop by an othe, and put in writyng, The Emperour is onely released of excommunication. The tenor of the writyng is this.

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I Henricus king, after peace and agreement made to the mynde & sentence of our Lord Gregorius 7. promise to kepe all couenantes and bandes betwixt vs: and to prouide that the Pope go safely, wherefoeuer he will wythout any daunger either to him, or to his retinue. Especially in all such places as be subiect to our Impery. Nor that I shall at any time stay or hinder him, but that he may doe that belongeth to his function where and whensoeuer his pleasure shalbe. And these thinges I bynd my selfe with an othe to kepe. Actum Conos. 5. Calend. Februarij. indic. 15.

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Thus the matter beyng decised betwixt them after the Popes owne prescribement: The Emperour taketh hys iourny to Papia. The Pope wyth hys Cardinals, dydvaunce and triumphe with no little pryde that they had so quailed The Emperor, and brought hym on his knees, to ask them forgeuenes. Yet notwithstandyng mistrusting themselues, and misdoubting tyme, what might befall them hereafter: if fortune should turne, and God geue the Emperour to enioy a more quiet kyngdome: therfore to preuent such dangers betyme they study and consult priuely with them selues, how to displace Hēry cleane from his kingdom. MarginaliaThe craftie conspiracy of the Cardinals agaynst the Emperour.And how that deuise might safely be conueyd, they conclude and determine to deriue The Empire vnto Rodolphus, a man of great nobilitie amongst the chiefest states of Germany, and also to incite and stirre vp all other princes and subiects (beyng yet free and discharged from their othes) against Henry, and so by force of armes to expulse The emperour out of hys kingdome. To bring this purpose the better to passe, legates were sent downe from the Pope: Sigehardus Patriarch of Aquilia, and Altimannus bishop of Padway, which should perswade through all Fraunce, that Henry The Emperor was rightfully excommunicate, and that they should geue to the bishop of Rome their consentes in chusing Rodolphus to be Emperor. This beyng done, there was sent to the said Rodolphus duke of Sweuia, a crowne from the Pope with this verse.

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MarginaliaThe verse.Petra dedit Petro, Petrus diadema Rodolpho.
The rocke gaue the crowne to Peter,
Peter geueth it to Rodolph.

MarginaliaThe glose vpon the verse of Hildebrand.Here by the way of digression (to make a litle glose, vpon this barbarous verse) two notable lyes are to be noted. One, where he lyeth vpon Christ, the other where he lyeth vpon S. Peter. First that Christ gaue any temporall diadeine to Peter it is a most manifest lye, and agaynst the scriptures: when as he would not take it, beyng geuē to hymselfe, and sayth hys kingdome is not of this world. Agayne where he saith that Peter geueth it to Rodulph: MarginaliaThe pope proued a double lyer.Here he playeth the Poet, for neither had Peter any suche thyng to geue, and if he had, yet he would not haue geuen it to Rodulph, from the right heyre: neyther is it true that Peter dyd geue it because Hildebrand gaue it. For it is no good argument. Hildebrand diyd geue it: Ergo Peter dyd geue it: excepte ye wyll say, Hildebrand stirred vp great warres and bloudshed in Germany, ergo Peter stirred vp great warres in Germany. So Peter neither coulde, nor would, nor dyd geue it to Rudolphus, but only Hildebrand the pope: who after he had so done, he gaue in commaundement to the Archbishop of Mentz, and of Collen, to electe this Rodolphus for Emperour, and to annoynt hym kyng, & also to defend hym with all force & strength they myght.

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While this conspiracy was in hand, Hēricus The emperor was absent, and the Popes ambassadors with hym also. In the meane space Rodolphus was elected Emperour, vnknowyng to Henry. Vpon this commeth the bishop of Strausbourgh, vnto The emperor, certifiyng him what was done. He suspecting & seeyng the stomak & doings of the Saxons so bent agaynst hym: mustreth hys men with expedition, & marcheth forward to defend hys right. But first sendeth to Rome (trustyng vpon the league betwixt hym and the Pope) and requireth the Bishop, to procede with hys sentence agaynst Rodulphus, for the rebellious inuasion of his Impery. But the bishop mindyng nothing lesse, MarginaliaThe Pope traitor to the Emperour.sendeth worde agayne, not to be right to condemne any person (his cause beyng not heard) thus vnder the pretence of the law, colouryng hys vnlawfull treatory. Henricus thus disappointed and forsaken on euery side, with his men about hym, attempteth battayle agaynst Rodolphus. In which battayle, a meruelous great slaughter was on both sides, but the victory on neither part certain. So that both the Captaines yet chalenged The Empire. After the battaile and great murder on both sides, they sēt to Rome both, to know of þ^e pope his determinatiō: to whether of thē two, he iudged the right title of The Empire to appertaine. The bishop commaundeth them both to breake vp theyr armies, and depart the field: promising that he shortly will call a councell, where this matter shal be disputed. In þ^e tyme they should cease from warre. But before the messengers returned agayne (their armies beyng refreshed) they had an other conflict together, but no victory got on either parte. MarginaliaGreat wars stirred vp by the Pope.Thus both the Captaines beyng weried in warres, the Romish beast the bishop which was the cause therof, perceiuyng whether these cruell wars would tend: to the great calamitie not only of Germains, but also of other nations (trustyng to find an other way to helpe Rodolphus and hys adherentes) sendeth downe a commission by Ottho Archbishop of Treuers, Bernardus Deacon, and Bernardus Abbot of Massilia: to whom he gaue

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